Calibrachoa plant named &#39;JGCAL09404&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘JGCAL09404’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually trailing plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; freely flowering habit; large dark violet and close to black-colored petals with yellow-colored centers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘JGCAL09404’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘JGCAL09404’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Bonsall, Calif. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new uniform and freely-branchingCalibrachoa plants with unique and attractive flower coloration, goodgarden performance and resistance to pathogens.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination conductedby the Inventor in Bonsall, Calif. on Sep. 11, 2013 of Calibrachoa sp.‘Duealkomidbu’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,487, as the female,or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp.identified as code number 11C110-02, not patented, as the male, orpollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and firstselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progenyof the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environmentin Bonsall, Calif. on Jul. 9, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. sinceJul. 15, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘JGCAL09404’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘JGCAL09404’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoaplant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually        trailing plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Large dark violet and close to black-colored petals with        yellow-colored centers.    -   6. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, ‘Duealkomidbu’. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘Duealkomidbu’ in flower size as plants of ‘Duealkomidbu’have smaller flowers. In addition, plants of the new Calibrachoa rootfaster and are more resistant to root pathogens than plants of‘Duealkomidbu’.

The new Calibrachoa plant can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants ofthe male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parentselection have black, yellow and red-colored petals. In addition, plantsof the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers, root faster and are moreresistant to root pathogens than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of theCalibrachoa sp. ‘USCAL84704’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,231.In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differprimarily from plants of ‘USCAL84704’ in flower size as plants of‘USCAL84704’ have smaller flowers. In addition, plants of the newCalibrachoa root faster and are more resistant to root pathogens thanplants of ‘USCAL84704’.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of theCalibrachoa sp. ‘USCAL68604’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,964.In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differprimarily from plants of ‘USCAL68604’ in flower size as plants of‘USCAL68604’ have smaller flowers. In addition, plants of the newCalibrachoa root faster and are more resistant to root pathogens thanplants of ‘USCAL68604’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Calibrachoa plant. The photograph at the bottom ofthe sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of‘JGCAL09404’ grown in a container. The photograph at the top of thesheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘JGCAL09404’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the spring in 10-cm containersin an acrylic-covered greenhouse in Carleton, Mich. and under culturalpractices typical of commercial Calibrachoa production.

During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures rangedfrom 18° C. to 30° C. Plants were six weeks from planting rootedcuttings when the photographs and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘JGCAL09404’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Calibrachoa sp. ‘Duealkomidbu’,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,487.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 11C110-02, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at            temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six days at            temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About 22 days at            temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About 25 days at            temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and            mounding to eventually trailing plant habit; moderately            vigorous to vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate;            freely branching habit with about three to four primary            lateral branches each with about four secondary branches;            dense and bushy appearance.        -   Plant height.—About 15.3 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 24 cm by 25 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 14 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1.2 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Initially upright then outwardly spreading to            eventually trailing.        -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent; matte.        -   Color, developing.—Close to 145A.        -   Color, developed.—Close to 146B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate; after flowering,            opposite; leaves simple.        -   Length.—About 2.7 cm.        -   Width.—About 1 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptical.        -   Apex.—Broadly acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent,            minute; matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137C; venation,            close to 146C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 147B; venation, close to 146B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture            and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent, minute;            matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers            arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with            typically about 180 flowers and flower buds developing per            plant; flowers face upright to outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Calibrachoa            begin flowering about six weeks after planting; plants            flower continuously from the spring though the summer until            frost.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about one week on            the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.6 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.            Shape: Oblong, elongate. Texture and luster: Pubescent,            minute; matte. Color: Close to 195B.        -   Flower diameter.—Large, about 4.2 cm by 4.2 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 3 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 6 mm by 8 mm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 2.3 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter.—Proximally, about 3 mm; distally,            about 1.2 cm.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five fused petals opening into a            flared trumpet. Petal lobe length (from throat): About            1.7 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2 cm. Petal shape:            Fan-shaped. Petal apex: Emarginate. Petal margin: Entire;            moderately undulate and reflexing. Petal texture and luster,            upper surface: Smooth, glabrous, velvety; matte. Petal            texture and luster, lower surface: Pubescent, minute; matte.            Throat texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Tube            texture and luster: Pubescent, minute and primarily along            the veins; matte. Color: Petal lobe, when opening, upper            surface: Close to 86B. Petal lobe, when opening, lower            surface: Close to N200D. Petal lobe, fully opened, upper            surface: Ground color, close to brighter than 86A; band            surrounding the throat, close to N186A; venation, close to            79A; with development, ground color becoming closer to 86B.            Petal lobe, fully opened, lower surface: Close to 79B;            venation, close to N79A; with development, color becoming            closer to 79C to 79D. Throat: Close to 12B; venation, close            to 183B. Tube: Close to 160D; venation, close to 187B.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five            sepals fused towards the base and arranged in a single            whorl. Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm. Sepal            length: About 1 cm. Sepal width: About 3 mm. Sepal shape:            Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal            texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent,            minute; matte. Sepal color, upper surface: Close to 146A.            Sepal color, lower surface: Close to 146B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Angle: About 30° to 45° from stem axis. Strength: Strong.            Texture and luster: Pubescent, minute; matte. Color: Close            to 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five per flower.            Filament length: About 1 cm. Filament color: Close to 145C.            Anther size: About 1 mm by 1 mm. Anther shape: Round. Anther            color: Close to 8B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:            Close to 9A. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil            length: About 9 mm. Style length: About 8 mm. Style color:            Close to 145B. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape:            Oval. Stigma color: Close to 146A. Ovary color: Close to            145B. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development have not            been observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed    to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and to be    suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Calibrachoa plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named‘JGCAL09404’ as illustrated and described.